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Actor Gerard Butler was treated and released after a scary surfing accident in California.

Gerard Butler is feeling lucky to be alive following a scary incident during the filming of his latest movie.

The 42-year-old Scottish actor was filming the surf movie "Of Men and Mavericks" at the famous surf spot Mavericks (just outside of Half Moon Bay in northern California) when he was pulled down by a set of waves and held underwater.

A coastal patrolman was able to pull the actor up, and he was rushed to Stanford Medical Center. Butler was treated and released and is said to be OK.

ESPN surf writer Frank Quirarte, who was on set at the time, later described the ordeal, which is far from an isolated incident at a dangerous spot like Mavericks.

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"He had that 100-yard stare that surfers get after a two-wave hold-down or near-death experience. After almost 20 years at Maverick's, I've seen a lot of it but it was good to see he was standing on his own two legs," wrote Quirarte.

The film is about the true-life story of professional surfer Jay Moriarty, who made his name surfing at Mavericks. Butler, who rose to fame playing a Spartan warrior in the film "300," portrays surfing legend Frosty Hesson, who mentored Moriarty.